Tie Dye Cookies

Tie Dye Sugar Cookies

These tie dye sugar cookies are made by coloring sections of sugar cookie dough, twisting the colors together, and slicing the dough into bright marbled cookies.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 8-10 minutes
Yield: About 24 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 batch sugar cookie dough
• Food coloring or gel coloring, 3-4 colors

Equipment

• Cookie sheets
• Mixing bowls
• Knife for slicing
• Parchment paper, optional

Instructions

1. Prepare sugar cookie dough according to your recipe.
2. Divide dough into 3-4 equal sections.
3. Add a drop of food coloring to each section and gently knead. For a marbled effect, knead only slightly.
4. Roll each colored dough section into a log.
5. Stack the logs together and gently twist to combine the colors.
6. Slice dough into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
7. Place cookies on a baking sheet.
8. Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms turn light golden brown.
9. Allow cookies to cool before serving.

4 Easy Steps

Color the Dough

Divide the dough and tint each section with a different color.

Twist the Colors

Roll colored dough into ropes and gently twist them together.

Slice the Dough

Slice the dough into colorful rounds before baking.

Bake & Enjoy

Bake until lightly golden and let kids compare the swirl designs.

Helpful Tips for Tie Dye Cookies

• Use gel food coloring for brighter colors without making the dough sticky.
• Chill dough for 20-30 minutes if it becomes too soft to slice.
• Twist gently so the colors stay marbled instead of blending together.
• Use parchment paper to keep colors from staining the counter.
• Try rainbow colors, school colors, party colors, or holiday colors.
• Flatten logs slightly to make oval or egg-shaped cookies.

Kid-Friendly Cooking Ideas

Tie dye cookies work well as both a baking activity and a learning activity. Kids can experiment with color combinations, predict what happens when colors mix, and compare their baked cookie patterns.

Making Rainbow Fish Cookies

Tie dye cookie dough can also be rolled out and cut into colorful fish shapes for a cooking-with-books activity inspired by The Rainbow Fish. This is a fun way to combine reading, baking, color mixing, and creative decorating.

You Will Need

• Sugar cookie dough
• Food coloring or coloring gels
• Rolling pin
• Extra flour for rolling out
• Cookie sheets
• Fish cookie cutter or cardstock fish pattern

Follow the tie dye cookie steps above to color your dough. Roll each color into a log, twist the colors together, and then roll the dough out with a rolling pin.

Roll the Dough

Twist the colored dough together and roll it flat for cutting shapes.

Cut Fish Shapes

Use a fish cookie cutter or make a simple cardstock fish pattern.

Bake the Cookies

Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden.

Read & Cook

Pair the cookies with an ocean theme lesson or a reading activity based on The Rainbow Fish.

Tip: If you do not have a fish cookie cutter, draw a simple fish shape on heavy cardstock and use it as a cutting pattern.

Combine this activity with the book Rainbow Fish for a colorful cooking and reading experience.

Rainbow Fish Book

Read the story before making colorful rainbow fish cookies together.

Tie Dye Cupcakes

Try another colorful baking project using swirled cake batter.

Pinwheel Cookies

Use colorful dough rolls to create patriotic or rainbow pinwheel cookies.

Cookie Decorating Party

Set up colorful cookies, frosting, and sprinkles for a creative baking party.